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Album Review

John Butler Trio
Grand National Jarrah Records

Article written by John S - Apr 22, 2007

The Western Australia based band return for their third studio album, this time produced by funkster Mario Caldato Jr which seems to explain a funkier edge than normal on Grand National. However, there�s still room for a melting pot of styles throughout.

The jaunty and folky start to opener Better Than Daniella bears more than a passing resemblance with funk-rockers Red Hot Chili Peppers with John Butler even sounding like Chili�s frontman, Alex Kiedis � even carrying a very similar name to a track from Stadium Arcadium: Dani California. Although the harmonica and almost bluegrassy opening again points to a more interesting musical path � a feeling further pushed when scratches and tabla sounding percussion creep into the mix. The bluegrass leanings are also apparent on single Funky Tonight whose pacy pluckings are accompanied by the didgeridoo�s first appearance on the album.

Lyrically there are some clumsy moments with �how now brown cow� in Used To Get High being a notable example � unless of course this is a bad line meant ironically. Either way it�s a weak moment in an otherwise good track.

It�s towards the half way point of the album that social conscience appears with the album�s centrepiece, the Hurricane Katrina commentating, Gov�t Did Nothing, but it�s a shame that Butler�s sentiments are somewhat watered down: �I don�t wish to offend, no I don�t wish to start a fight, but do you really think that the Gov�t do nothing if all those people were white?� The track races along its 8 minute length with the last half being a cacophony of French Quarter horns, gospel singing and frenetic blues guitar playing. This isn�t to say there are no redeeming features though: the delicate and beautifully picked Losing You, Caroline and Nowhere Man stand out as does Better Than.

There�s an argument for Grand National being perhaps too heavily influenced by RHCP and their Blood Sugar Sex Magik era funk-rock leanings, but there is a lot more on display here � it�s just a shame that the band didn�t focus on that. Perhaps a different producer is called for next time round�

Links:
http://www.johnbutlertrio.com